The Exhibitor (1951)

EXHIBITOR NT-3 tor, is out of the hospital after a leg operation. . . . Mrs. Michael Papero, former secretary to Jack Chinell, RKO branch manager, is the proud mother of a new baby girl, her first, born on March 13. . . . Clayton Eastman, ELC district manager, was in on business with Manny Brown, branch manager. . . . Leo Abrams, National Screen Serv¬ ice district manager, was in from the home office for a one-day conference with Jack Goldstein. Sympathy goes to A1 Pierce, Shea’s Bellevue manager, on the passing of his sister Sarah. . . . Paul A. Vogt, stage electrician, Shea’s Buffalo, since its open¬ ing 25 years ago, died in Veterans Hos¬ pital after an illness of seven weeks. He also had worked as an electrician at the former Shea’s Court Street, and was head electrician at the ice shows at the Memorial Auditorium and at stage shows at the Erlanger. He was secretary treas¬ urer, Local 10. Jim Fater, Columbia branch manager, held a special screening of “Valentino.” . . . Shea Community theatres had special Easter Week kiddie shows. . . . Carl Rindcen, Shea’s Buffalo manager, had a Red Cross blood booth in the lobby dur¬ ing “The Steel Helmet.” A1 Pierce, Shea’s Bellevue, Niagara Falls, manager, and Tony Ranicar, War¬ ners’ Canadian press representative, set up an international “hands across the border” salute on Rainbow Bridge, Niagara Falls, with city officials, Cham¬ bers of Commerce, and other civic offi¬ cials of both of the Niagara Falls cities participating. The Warner-Pathe News reel cameraman was on hand to shoot the proceedings. The occasion was the premiere of Warners’ short, “The Neigh¬ bor Next Door,” simultaneously at the Bellevue and at the Seneca, Niagara Falls. Excitement along film row was caused by a fire of unknown origin in Eastern Theatre Supply. Manager Pickrel esti¬ mated damages amounting to $2,000. . . . Loch Bleackley, president, Perkins The¬ atre Supply, was in from Montreal, Que., for conferences with Carl Bell, branch manager. George Mackenna, general manager, Basil’s Lafayette, has a new secretary, Lorain Gardner. She succeeds June Polland, resigned. . . . Elmer Lux, chairman, Will Rogers Memorial Hospital Drive, issued notices to exhibitors and distrib¬ utors for a general meeting in the Motion Picture Operators Screen Room, at which he was to discuss the industry’s effort. Mrs. Marie Hayman, Strand and Cataract, Niagara Falls, returned from her winter home at Miami Beach, Fla., where she spent three months. Son Bob Hayman and wife, Miriam, are at present in Florida, where they will remain a month. Son Dick is carrying on at the theatres during their absence. Dave Miller, Elmer Lux, and George Mackenna will be among the Buffalo con¬ tingent flying to Pittsburgh on April 9 to attend the testimonial dinner for Pete Gladys Green, manager, Paramount, Kansas City, and Paramount star Bob Hope recently greeted several young victims of cerebral palsy at the Para¬ mount studio on the coast. Hope, na¬ tional chairman, United Cerebral Palsy Associations, discussed campaign plans. Dana on the occasion of his appointment as eastern sales manager for U-I. — M. G. Rochester Les Coulter, manager, Madison, re¬ signed to join the Martina organization, causing a shift of Schine house execu¬ tives. Bud Lewis, Cameo, moved to the Madison, and Joseph Zoell, West End, transferred to Cameo. Robert Carbone, who recently bought the Hudson, and leased the Rexy from Carol Fenyvessy, returned from a vaca¬ tion in Florida. . . . Gus Lampe, Schine operations chief, visited houses with dis¬ trict manager Gus DePauw and city manager Glenn Lazar. . . . The Waring has picked up amazingly in recent weeks. . . . Jerry Carter, Dixie, puts on special Saturday matinee shows for children. Manager Anthony Rosato, Waring, previewed “Prince of Peace’’ with plans for a big Easter promotion. Projectionists’ Corner — The boys are wondering why Frank Placerean and Alden James, vice-president, P. Lorillard Company, makers of Old Gold cigarettes; Max E, Youngstein, vice-president and national director of advertising, pub¬ licity, and exploitation, United Artists, and Frank White, president, Mutual Broadcasting System, are seen as they recently discussed the “Queen For A Day” promotion jointly sponsored by UA, Old Gold, sponsor of the radio show on which the picture is based, and the MBC, which carries the radio program, and is backing the deal on a nationwide scale. Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall are shown at LaGuardia Airport upon their recent arrival for a short New York stay before going to London where preparations are being made for Bogart’s starring role in “African Queen,” being produced by Sam Speigel for UA release. Lcuis Astragan seem to be putting on weight. . . . Carl Irons, Waring, is mak¬ ing a complete study of Frank Coneglio’s car before deciding to buy one like it. . . . Joe Vecchio, delegate to the Central Trades Council, attended an Albany hearing to protest against the HughesBrees bill. . . . George Leavens and Allen Sage were welcomed back after illness. — D. R. Saratoga Springs William E. Benton, well-known upstate executive and a pioneer in the industry, died on March 19 in Miami Beach, Fla., where he had been vacationing, after a brief illness. He was 56. Interment was held here on March 26. Benton was as¬ sociated with the industry for more than 30 years, and also had many other pub¬ lic and private interests in Saratoga County, which made him a leading figure in New York State politics and business. He was Republican county chairman in Saratoga for many years, owned and operated such famous hotels as the Worden and Grand Union, Saratoga Springs; was president of the local hos¬ pital, and county chairman of the Red Cross for many years. At the time of his death he was associated with Walter Reade Theatres in the operation of Sara¬ toga Springs’ two theatres; with the Schine Circuit in operation of theatres in Mechanicsville, Ballston Spa, White¬ hall, and Granville, and also operated two theatres in Plattsburg. He is sur¬ vived by his wife, Irene; a daughter. Fern, and two sons, William E., Jr., and James E., active in the motion picture theatres, and several grandchildren. Syracuse Edmund E. Linder has been appointed resident manager, Astor. He was con¬ nected with Loew’s, Inc., for 14 years previous to his service in the armed forces, and later held position of house manager at the Winter Garden under the Arthur J. Rank banner until the expiration of the theatre lease. In De¬ cember, 1949, he opened the Roosevelt, Miami Beach, Fla. Richard Feldman, former manager, Schine’s Paramount, is now carrying his (Continued on next page) March 28, 1951